Civil engineers with integrity, dedication, and conscience

By Ray Adrian Macalalag

Sixty “ghost” projects and counting. PHP545 million spent for flood control, thus far. As a civil engineer with a modest duration of service in government, I have been watching the flood control controversy with a mixture of anger and sadness. Reports from Congress revealed that as many as 60 “ghost” projects were flagged while investigations are still ongoing. Lawmakers questioned billions in spending, while the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has scrambled to explain projects that either exist only on paper or were so poorly done that they fail to serve their purpose.

It is frustrating to see the profession I chose and thousands more have chosen, one that is supposed to protect lives and build communities, dragged into headlines for corruption. Allegations that PHP545 billion has been poured into flood control programs since 2022 with questionable results cast a shadow on all of us. Yet here is a truth I want readers to remember: not all civil engineers are corrupt, and not all projects are scams.

While investigations uncover wrongdoing, it is important not to paint every engineer in DPWH or in private firms with the same broad brush. Many of us entered this field not for wealth or prestige, but for service. We studied late nights, endured board exams, and trained in the field because we believe our work can save lives when typhoons hit, when rivers overflow, and when cities grow.

Public service, at its core, is about responsibility. For civil engineers, that responsibility is literal. Our drawings and calculations determine whether a bridge stands strong or falls, whether a flood control project holds or collapses.

Integrity is the first pillar of that responsibility. The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers has emphasized this in their statement, as a response to this growing issue on flood control. Integrity is non-negotiable. Without it, everything else crumbles. Not at first, but eventually, it will. When corners are cut or when projects exist only on paper, it is the public who pays the price: families in evacuation centers, farmers whose fields are underwater, children who cannot return to school because classrooms are submerged.

Dedication is the second pillar. Engineering is demanding, often thankless work. It requires patience and precision, but it also demands vision. Dedication means we do not settle for “pwede na” solutions. It means we consider climate change, design for resilience, and think not only of today but of generations ahead. Dedication does not always make headlines, but it is what keeps people safe.

The third pillar is conscience. Engineers are often faced with choices where the easy path is not the right one. Conscience is that inner voice reminding us that the profession is not just about cement and steel, but about human dignity. For me and for many of my peers, conscience is what keeps us grounded when the temptations appear.

Yes, there are people who betray the trust given to them. Yes, some projects are riddled with corruption. But to generalize all engineers is unfair. It is unfair not only to those who work honestly, but also to the communities we serve. Thousands of projects such as roads, schools, water systems, and bridges are built with care and integrity, often in silence and without ceremony. They do not make the news, but they carry just as much impact as the scandals.

The ongoing investigations are painful but necessary. They are a chance to demand accountability, to punish those within the profession and most importantly, the root cause and the masterminds beyond the profession who has more influence and power.

The road ahead will not be easy. We cannot change the past scandals, but we can choose to build a future where “civil engineer” or “DPWH” once again means protector of the people, not a synonym for corruption. The true measure of our work is not in the billions spent, the share of infrastructure in the country’s gross domestic product, or the concrete poured. It is in the lives kept safe, the trust maintained, and the hope restored. This is the promise we should carry as civil engineers as we step forward in the profession. It is a promise that we hope the public will see in the many honest engineers in DPWH and beyond who continue to serve.